SB 454, the Community Safety Act, allocates $5.5 million in state funds for North Carolina law enforcement agencies over the 2025-2026 fiscal year. It provides grants for community policing programs ($1 million), officer incentives for exemplary service or diversity efforts ($1.5 million), and additional detective funding for severe crimes ($2 million). The bill also revises use-of-force policies to ban strangleholds and neck restraints as acceptable tactics, requiring officers to use minimum force and prioritize de-escalation. Additionally, it sets a minimum hiring age of 21 for officers and allows denial of certification based on certain felony or misdemeanor convictions, regardless of expungement. These provisions directly affect all law enforcement agencies and officers in North Carolina.
HB 552 establishes the Agricultural Manufacturing Investment Grant Account within North Carolina's One North Carolina Fund, allocating up to $5 million for new economic development incentives. This account provides competitive grants to eligible agricultural manufacturers in the state. The Department of Commerce will administer these grants, prioritizing projects in less developed areas, those using advanced agricultural technologies, or those with significant research and development. To qualify, recipients must commit to investing at least $5 million of private funds, employ a minimum of 25 full-time employees, and meet specific wage requirements. Grants are capped at $100,000 annually per recipient for up to five years.
SB 524, the Community Safety Partnership Act, establishes a state fund and grant program to support community-led safety initiatives in North Carolina. It provides grants (up to $100,000 per project) to counties, municipalities, and nonprofits for specific safety projects like improved street lighting, security cameras, or community alert systems, prioritizing high-crime and underserved areas. The bill also creates a digital tracking system to verify attendance at approved neighborhood watch meetings and mandates a state-mandated bonus for law enforcement officers engaged in community outreach. Eligible participants include residents in certified neighborhood watch programs and participating officers, with grantees required to report on project use and outcomes annually. The legislation directly affects local governments, community organizations, and law enforcement through funding and new administrative requirements.
House Bill 283 establishes the Small Business Investment Grant (SBIG) Program within the One North Carolina Fund, designed to provide financial assistance to eligible small businesses looking to establish or expand facilities in the state. The bill allocates up to $10 million from the Fund to this new account. Through the SBIG Program, competitive grants are offered to businesses meeting specific criteria, such as having 250 or fewer employees or less than $5 million in annual revenue, investing $10-$30 million, and creating new jobs with competitive wages. Grants are capped at $500,000 annually per recipient, up to $2.5 million total, over a maximum of five years. Additionally, the bill renames the "One North Carolina Small Business Account" to the "Small Business Research and Technology Account," which continues to support federal SBIR/STTR grant incentive and matching programs.
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SB 447 establishes the Sewer Repair Task Force to assess North Carolina's wastewater infrastructure needs, develop implementation strategies, and identify funding sources. The bill appropriates $50 million from the General Fund specifically to the South Granville Water and Sewer Authority for four concrete projects: expanding facilities in Creedmoor and Butner ($20M), upgrading treatment for PFAS compliance ($15M), modernizing water meters ($10M), and replacing lead pipes ($5M). The Task Force, composed of 18 members including legislators, agency directors, county commissioners, and wastewater entity representatives, must submit a final report by December 2026. This bill directly affects South Granville's service area and addresses state-identified infrastructure gaps, particularly in rural and developing communities.
SB 582, the Wellness Break Act, establishes a paid sabbatical leave program for North Carolina public employees (state, county, city, school, and community college workers) and provides tax incentives for private sector employers. Public employees with three or more years in the same role can take 4-6 weeks of paid leave (70% of salary) for health, wellness, skill-building, or personal enrichment, provided they return to their position for one year. Private businesses offering similar leave qualify for a tax credit of up to $5,000 per employee to offset costs. The bill requires public employers to report on program usage and outcomes, and the NCWorks Commission will develop model policies and resources to support private sector adoption.
HB 518 requires North Carolina local governments and school districts to use competitive bidding annually for publishing official notices (like public meeting announcements), aiming to lower costs and ensure fair competition. It mandates that contracts be awarded to the lowest-cost bidder who meets quality and performance standards, considering factors like circulation and compliance with existing rules. The bill also updates legal advertising rules to limit payments to newspapers' published commercial rates and requires them to file those rates with courts. These changes apply to notices published on or after July 1, 2026.
SB 680 creates the North Carolina Child Care Finance Agency to address the state's childcare shortage through targeted financing. The agency will provide loans and bonds for constructing or renovating childcare facilities, prioritizing small providers (under 10 facilities), high-quality licensed centers, and projects in high-need areas. It specifically supports faith-based organizations, businesses offering on-site childcare for employees, and encourages full-day care and workforce development partnerships. The bill directly affects childcare providers, employers, and families by expanding affordable, accessible childcare options across North Carolina.
HB 708 establishes a $2.5 million annual grant program to fund after-school robotics education for North Carolina high school students. It provides grants to public schools or community organizations partnering with approved robotics organizations (like nonprofits or universities) to cover robotics kits, coach stipends, competition fees, and program coordination. The bill also requires schools to grant excused absences for students participating in robotics competitions, aligning with existing policies for academic events. This directly supports high school students in STEM fields through structured, competitive robotics programs while mandating annual reporting on grant usage and student outcomes.
HB 534 appropriates $700,000 from North Carolina's General Fund for the 2025-2026 fiscal year to establish sexual assault nurse examiner (SANE) training programs at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College and Wake Technical Community College. Each college receives $350,000 to hire a full-time faculty member ($105,000), a clinical coordinator ($105,000), purchase equipment/supplies ($45,000), and cover program development and accreditation costs ($95,000). The bill directly affects these two community colleges and future healthcare professionals seeking SANE certification. It creates a concrete funding mechanism to expand training capacity for nurses specializing in sexual assault victim care.
